You might think that sun cream is the preserve of the pale and interesting and those who turn lobster-coloured in the sun. But think again — Asian skin needs just as much protection as anybody else’s.

Granted, our chances of sunburn and skin cancer are lower, and we are less prone to wrinkles than our Caucasian counterparts, but the sun can inflict other unpleasant side-effects on desi girls.

I think the biggest issue for Asian women (and men) is the thought of getting darker. That age-old issue of us brown folk not wanting to look too, erm, brown. We seek shade when it’s sunny, and pick a foundation that’s too light for us. I know this because I was one of those people, before I discovered that avoiding the sun can lead to vitamin D deficiency. Now I let the sun toast my arms to charcoal. As for the lighter foundation, I’m still working on that. However, I still try to wear sun protection on my face. This is because too much sun gives us Asian girls age spots and freckles, and an uneven skin tone. And over-exposure can also leave a desi girl looking leathery.

It’s no secret that less sun damage equals younger-looking skin. And apparently the SPF in your moisturiser won’t cut it; you need an actual sun cream that’s intended for purpose.

I recently discovered a sun cream for the face which actually stays matte under the skin, and you only need to apply once a day. Ultrasun SPF 30 for Face is sold at QVC and is a great little discovery. I apply it in the morning over my moisturiser and under my makeup, and my face stays shine free all day. I was super impressed by this product, as so many others which are intended for the face still left me feeling gloopy.